Bourbon and Grand Marnier are a magical combo. The two complement one another and elevate the Classic Manhattan Cocktail to a whole new level. I’ve taken the liberty of tweaking the ingredients of the Manhattan cocktail recipe. The addition of orange bitters and Grand Marnier takes the drink in a completely different direction. Orange and bourbon just work together so well, it’s hard not to love my Grand Manhattan Cocktail recipe.
What are the Classic Manhattan Cocktails ingredients?
The Manhattan drink is a strong, slightly bitter cocktail with herbal undertones and has various forms. The Manhattan Dry, the Manhattan Sweet, and the Perfect Manhattan. Traditionally, all of the Manhattan variations were made with Rye Whiskey, however, it is not unusual to use Bourbon or Canadian Whiskey. Using Scotch Whisky changes the cocktail, resulting in a Rob Roy rather than a Manhattan.
- Manhattan Dry is served in a Martini glass with an orange twist it’s made with Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth.
- Manhattan Sweet is also served in a Martini glass with an orange twist it’s made with Martini Rosso Sweet Vermouth.
- Perfect Manhattan uses a combination of both Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth and Martini Rosso Sweet Vermouth.
Manhattan vs The Old Fashioned?
These two classic cocktails have a very similar list of ingredients. The Manhattan is sweetened only with vermouth and the Old Fashioned is sweetened with either simple syrup or a sugar cube muddled with the bitters. The Manhattan is served ‘UP’ in a martini glass or coupe while the Old Fashioned is served in an Old Fashioned glass on the rocks.
Elegant and sophisticated the Grand Manhattan Cocktail recipe is slightly sweeter than a classic Manhattan but not as sweet as an Old Fashioned. Don’t get me wrong, for me, the perfect Manhattan recipe is hard to beat, it’s a great drink that has been around for ages, and for good reason. However, the Grand Manhattan Cocktail recipe is the go-to when I want a great cocktail but don’t want to jump through hoops to make one. Quick and easy to make, and equally easy to drink.
Here is the Grand Manhattan recipe:
Grand Manhattan
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Ounces Grand Marnier
- 1 1/2 Ounces Bourbon
- 1/2 Ounce Sweet Vermouth
- 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 Dash Orange Bitters
Garnish
- 3 Brandied Cherries Luxardo
- 1 Orange Peel
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a shaker over ice, stir until ice cold
- Pour into a chilled coupe or Martini glass
- Garnish with brandied cherries and orange peel
Nutrition
- Bourbon is an American whiskey, it is believed that Bourbon gets its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky. The American Bourbon Association website has great information about Bourbon. Firstly, in order for whiskey to be called Bourbon, it must be made in the USA. The mash must contain at least 51% corn, with no additives or artificial colorings. It must be aged in new charred oak barrels that are aged on their sides to allow good airflow. In order to be considered ‘Straight Bourbon Whiskey’ it must be aged for a minimum of 2-years. That being said, this is a very condensed version of what makes Bourbon, Bourbon. I highly recommend the American Bourbon Association website if you’d like more detailed information.
- Grand Marnier is a French brand of orange liqueur. It is a Cognac distilled with the essence of Caribbean bitter orange. Reportedly Grand Marnier was named by the great hotelier César Ritz. Grand Marnier is often served neat as a digestif, or as a mixer in cocktails, I find it goes particularly well with Bourbon. When I worked as a pastry chef, I used Grand Marnier extensively in recipes for desserts and sauces.
